Thursday Already

Well, hi dear friends. I have been neglecting my poor little blog here, I know. Can you believe it's Thursday already? Where in the world has the time gone?

In this household, it's the usual. Poor Neesie is bogged down under with schoolwork, and me? For one thing, I have started the income taxes and wonder of wonders, have remained sane so far! But then, I've only gotten ten percent through it, so that's not saying much. Seriously, though, since we switched to the H & R Block online tax service, it has been far far better than the old days. So much of the info is saved from previous years, and they do help guide you through the process. For us, it is worth the $29.95, so this is a little plug for the H & R online. Also, my sanity has remained more intact since I start it a bit "earlier" (that is, late March instead of early April!), and only do a small segment at a time. Somehow, it's seems less painful that way. I guess you can tell, there is not a lot of love for the IRS around here, and we don't even usually have to pay them anything! Unfortunately, it must be an area of besetting sin which should be given over to the Lord. That's not a joke.

Also, we're in the middle of developing new products at Speakable Gifts, some which are wedding related, so please pray for my daughter Bev and me as we seek God's help and direction in this. I'll let you know when we have it pretty much all together.

But we're still looking to Jesus in our little corner of the world. I know many of you are too. I'm going to try to "steal" some moments here and there through the course of the day to check on some of you to see what you're up to!

Happy Spring

Well, folks, it appears that we've made it. On this first day of spring we can rejoice that we got through one of the worst winters that I can remember. And oh, how happy everyone is. The birds are, of course; we've been talking much about their singing, but I think most of us are feeling it a bit more than is usual for the coming of the season. Everything is still pretty bare outside, but the temperatures are wonderful! Low seventies for today; now you can't get much better than that!

Enjoy the day where you are! Summer is on it's way. Which, by the way doesn't necessarily make me happy, because as you will recall, I dislike summer, with it's mosquitoes, humidity and other discomforts, but let's just enjoy each as it comes.

And have a nice Lord's Day tomorrow! Don't let this health care legislation get you down--The Lord is in control. If He doesn't answer our prayers in the way that we desire, we can rest assured He is doing what is absolutely His will for this country. And His will is always best. And remember all the more: our citizenship is in heaven; this world is not our home.

Oh! This may be a treat for this first day of spring. Apparently, the sky is going to be putting on a show tonight in honor of the equinox Go here to find out more. (Please excuse the references to the age of the universe.)

Bulldog Puppies

A notice in a weekly newspaper advertised bulldog puppies.

"Cute, already housebroken." the advertisement promised. "Eat most any food you put in front of them. Love children."

Fruitbearing

You can find more Word Filled Wednesday posts to bless your soul at Cristy's Critty Joy.

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.


Psalm 92:12-15

This passage has been dear to me for a good while now, but as the years pass, it becomes even more so. I know quite a few golden years folks who are really living this passage and they are such encouragements to me. Now that I too am older, I sure do pray the Lord will give me strength to bear fruit to His glory, even in old age.

Praising My Savior

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 150:6

Look what I found. My wonderful birds and my mom's favorite hymn together! What a blessing. Are the birds singing his praises where you live? They sure have been around here. Especially early in the morning! We should be more like them...Praising our Savior all the day long!

World Vision Tragedy

Many of you know how I feel about the work of World Vision around the world. Whenever there is a terrible catastrophe, it is usually through this organization that our family gives, with confidence that the money will reach the people in need.

You may have heard the news yesterday, but having been out most of the day, I didn't hear until last night when I got the email from WV U.S. President Richard Stearns which started out: "It is with a sad heart that I write to you about a terrible loss to the World Vision family. . ." He then went on to tell about the brutal murder of six WV workers in their office in a district of Pakistan. Eight others have been hospitalized as a result of this attack by gunmen. I have to say the email left me shocked and horrified. I feel as though I am a part of the WV family (we have been sponsoring children with them for many years), and I don't remember ever getting an email quite like this one. Usually the emails tell about how they are helping in the various areas of devastation in the many countries which need it. WV often use nationals in their work, which I think was the case here. Please, please pray for those who survived, the families of the victims, and for the people whom they were trying so hard to help. Needless to say, the organization has had to temporarily suspend operations in Pakistan, but they also state their commitment to helping the people there. Such is the spirit of World Vision.

A Needed Lighter Moment

In honor of geometry, which is trying to drive me batty:

What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter?

Answer: Pumpkin pi.

Now that was funny, unless you have no clue what a circumference or a diameter is, and if that's the case, you may be better off. Maybe it's me, maybe I'm too old for this,maybe it's just that I would rather be doing about ten other things, but trying to work through and understand geometry with Neesie is getting. . .Well, let's just say I'll be glad when it's over. At first I liked it, if you remember my post a while back, but I think I've joined the ranks of countless others, especially girls, who consider it something that exists to make life just a bit more difficult. One book said that geometry is "a giant puzzle with interlocking pieces that you must snap together." Sorry to say, but it's not quite as enjoyable as those jigsaw puzzles that I have sitting in the other room that are so relaxing to work through. And who were all those people who figured all of this out anyway? That Euclid must have been quite a guy. I'm glad not to know him, lol. Oh well, this too will pass.

And on top of that, I need to get to the income taxes. That's another post, though. It would not be early spring without my talking about the taxes.

Please excuse the autumn picture in the springtime. Wish I had a piece of pumpkin pie right now.

Casting Your Care

If you want to read what others have posted for Word Filled Wednesday, go visit Penny at pennyraine.com.

I posted this picture and a hymn on my devotional blog some time ago and directed the post to some friends who were going through trials. But then, there are always friends going through trials, aren't there? Trials are so much a part of this life. Aren't you thankful that Jesus cares? Here is a stanza and the chorus response from that hymn that goes so well with this verse:

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

~ Frank E. Graeff

[Sticky Note] Come and Get It!

We're having another giveaway at the Speakable Gifts blog. . .so come on over and let us give you something. (See it up above?) I think you'd really like to have this if you won it. A way to bless either yourself or someone else. Read all about it at the SG Notebook and please tell others. It's easy as pie to enter.

NOTE: Drawing is on Monday, March 1st, so if you haven't entered, hurry up!

UPDATE: We have our winner! Thanks to all who participated! Come over to visit when you can--we'll be having a lot going on.